Wi-Fi-enabled handsets to get mobile TV in the near future

SINGAPORE--At BroadcastAsia 2007, a Singapore-based company, Innoxius Technologies said it is launching what could possibly be the world's first mobile TV-enabler device for Wi-Fi networks.

The enabler device is an adapter that plugs into the LAN port of wireless access points, turning the latter into a DVB-H repeater for Wi-Fi-enabled handhelds. DVB-H is a technical specification for broadcasting on handheld devices.

The company is one of three licensees that will be conducting commercial and technical studies of mobile broadcasting in the island-state.

In February this year, Innoxius also partnered with ChungHwa Widebank Best Network to conduct similar trials in Taichung and Tainan, Taiwan. The trials involving no less than 1,500 subscribers in both cities are expected to run until end 2007.

Jonathan Wu, vice general manager of the Network Operations Center at ChungHwa, told CNET Asia that 12 mobile TV channels are available for the trial, including popular Taiwanese variety shows carried by Eastern Television.

With trials commencing soon in Singapore, some of the issues faced by the licensees fall into the areas of size of the subscriber base and lack of compatible devices, revealed Edmund Yong, chief technology officer of Innoxius Technologies.

Yung added that by enabling Wi-Fi access points as repeaters for the DVB-H signal, the company can tap into a larger consumer base that is using Wi-Fi-enabled handhelds. Users wouldn't have to purchase a separate handset to enjoy TV on-the-go.

Despite the convenience, streaming videos via a Wi-Fi connection isn't proposed as the solution, but rather as a complement to the DVB-H standard because Wi-Fi networks have a limited range and users may also experience interference issues.

BroadcastAsia 2007 runs from June 19 till 22 at the Singapore Expo. Some of the DVB-H-enabled handsets on display include the Nokia N77, N92 and the Samsung Ultra MobileTV SGH-F600.